Recognizing the value of meaningful employment

At UCP, the concept of diversity and inclusion is nothing new. In fact, we’ve been promoting diversity and modeling inclusion—at home, school, work, and in the community—for nearly 70 years. That’s because we value the contributions made by people of ALL abilities in ALL aspects of life, including employment. So this October, in celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), our message is clear: inclusion means inclusion for all. And it begins with the employer.

UCP not only provides supported employment to several staff at our Camp Hill and Lewistown administrative offices, we have a dedicated Employment Services division whose purpose is to equip and assist individuals with diverse abilities to secure and maintain competitive employment.

The heart of supported employment is the workplace. After all, you can’t have disability employment if you don’t have employers willing to do the hiring. Fortunately, UCP has developed working relationships with forward-thinking companies and organizations of all sizes across the midstate. At last count we are working with 29 such employers.

Similarly, you can’t truly have full workplace inclusion if you are not offering employment opportunities to individuals of differing abilities. Here are some ways employers can advance the reality of disability inclusion all year long:

Review policies

There’s no time like the present to review your company’s policies to ensure they convey a commitment to an inclusive workplace culture, including any necessary accommodations. Hold both leadership and staff accountable to the policies.

Educate employees and extended family

It is critical that companies routinely reinforce their commitment to inclusion by making all staff aware of the value of disability employment. Make inclusion part of your new hire and ongoing employee training. Find ways to make inclusion part of the day-to-day experience and to ensure each employee understands their role in fostering an inclusive workplace culture. If you have a presence on social media, consider ways to feature your disability inclusion efforts in your social media activities. In doing so, you will help raise awareness throughout your community and beyond.

Most importantly…

Become a supportive employer

If you or your employer have not already taken this step, we encourage you to explore UCP’s Employment Services to learn more about the benefits of a richer, more diverse workforce. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you find: a ready pool of reliable, motivated employees who WANT to work. Given today’s employment environment, that’s a rarity.